Microwave cooking oven with an adjusting device for adjusting a microwave shield

Abstract

A microwave oven includes a housing, which surrounds an oven space and has a flange configured to delimit a loading opening for the oven space. A door closes off the oven space and is disposed movably on the housing. Disposed on the door is a microwave shield, which is disposed at a distance in front of the flange, when the door is closed and is adjusted by an adjustment facility such that a position of the microwave shield can be set in three spatial directions relative to the flange.

Claims

1. A microwave oven, comprising: a housing, which surrounds an oven space and has a flange configured to delimit a loading opening for the oven space, a door configured to close off the oven space, said door being disposed movably on the housing, a microwave shield, which is disposed on the door and disposed at a distance in front of the flange, when the door is closed, and at least one adjustment facility configured to adjust the microwave shield such that a position of the microwave shield is able to be set in three spatial directions relative to the flange via the at least one adjustment facility.

2. The microwave oven of claim 1, wherein the door has a carrier part which forms a part of the at least one adjustment facility and on which the position of the microwave shield is adjustable in at least two of the three spatial directions relative to the carrier part.

3. The microwave oven of claim 2, wherein the two spatial directions extend in a plane parallel to the microwave shield.

4. The microwave oven of claim 2, wherein the microwave shield is disposed on the carrier part so that it can be released without destroying it.

5. The microwave oven of claim 2, wherein the carrier part is a plate.

6. The microwave oven of claim 2, further comprising fastening elements configured to pass through holes of the carrier part for fastening the microwave shield to the carrier part, each said fastening element being defined by an external diameter, wherein the holes are each defined by an internal diameter which is greater by at least 1.2 times than the external diameter of a base part of the fastening element, which extends through the hole in an installed end state.

7. The microwave oven of claim 6, wherein the internal diameter is greater by at least 1.5 times than the external diameter of the base part of the fastening element.

8. The microwave oven of claim 1, wherein a depth direction of the microwave oven between the microwave shield and the flange defines a third one of the three spatial directions, said at least one adjustment facility having a distance setting device configured to set a relative position in the third spatial direction.

9. The microwave oven of claim 8, wherein the door has a carrier part on which the microwave shield is disposed, said distance setting device having at least one distance element sized to extend in a free space between the microwave shield and the carrier part of the door.

10. The microwave oven of claim 9, further comprising a fastening element configured to pass through a hole of the carrier part for fastening the microwave shield to the carrier part, said fastening element extending axially in the third spatial direction through the distance element.

11. The microwave oven of claim 9, wherein the distance element has asymmetrical shape at least in one of the three spatial direction and is configured for movement in the free space in a plane parallel to the carrier part and the microwave shield, said distance element having a variable distance in the third spatial direction as a function of the position of the distance element in relation to the microwave shield and the carrier part.

12. The microwave oven of claim 11, wherein the distance element has an end, as viewed in a longitudinal extent thereof in the third spatial direction, which end is embodied in a wedge shape and rests against a tapered inner side of the microwave shield, with a change in distance of the distance element being realized by relative movement of the end along the tapered inner side.

13. The microwave oven of claim 9, wherein the distance element for setting a distance in the third spatial direction has a variable length.

14. The microwave oven of claim 13, wherein a change in length of the distance element is reversible.

15. The microwave oven of claim 9, wherein the distance element is a spring.

16. The microwave oven of claim 9, wherein the distance element is a spiral spring.

17. The microwave oven of claim 9, further comprising a fastening element configured to pass through a hole of the carrier part for fastening the microwave shield to the carrier part, said distance element having two sub-elements movable relative to one another in the third spatial direction, a first one of the sub-elements being disposed in a fixed location on the microwave shield and having a receptacle area for fixed-location mechanical connection with the fastening element, and a second one of the sub-elements being disposed in the free space and engaging into and coupled with the first sub-element.

18. The microwave oven of claim 10, wherein the distance element is integrated into the fastening element.

19. The microwave oven of claim 18, wherein the fastening element has a shaft-like base section having one end configured with an anchoring area for fastening the fastening element in the microwave shield and a plate-shaped collar which at least partly runs around the base section and which is supported on an inner microwave-shield-facing side of the carrier part, wherein a distance in the third spatial direction between the microwave shield and the carrier part is adjustable as a function of a relative position of the anchoring area in a receptacle in the microwave shield.

20. The microwave oven of claim 19, further comprising a fixing element configured to fix a set position of the fastening element, said base section having another end lying opposite the anchoring area and having a coupling area for the fixing element, said fixing element resting against an outer side of the carrier part facing away from the microwave shield in an installed state.

21. The microwave oven of claim 10, wherein the distance element is embodied in the form of a plug and extends with a spreadable front end into a receptacle in the microwave shield, said distance element having a rear end with a claw for support on a microwave-shield-facing inner side of the carrier part of the door, wherein a distance in the third spatial direction between the microwave shield and the carrier part is able to be set by a penetration depth of the front end of the distance element into the receptacle and is able to be fixed by inserting the fastening element into the front end of the distance element in the receptacle by spreading out the front end.

22. The microwave oven of claim 10, wherein the distance element is integrated into the microwave shield and is embodied as a U-shaped bent tab which is deformable on an edge side in the third spatial direction, said fastening element extending in the third spatial direction through both arms of the U-shaped bent tab, with one arm of the U-shaped bent tab resting against a microwave-shield-facing inner side of the carrier part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below on the basis of schematic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a horizontal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive microwave oven;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front view of the oven according to FIG. 1 with closed door, wherein only a carrier part of the door, as is connected to a microwave shield, is shown;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged diagram of a part section of the view in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4a-4d show schematic horizontal sectional diagrams of versions with misadjusted components of a door on one side and adjusted doors on the other side;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional diagram through a first exemplary embodiment of an adjustment facility;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional diagram through a second exemplary embodiment of an adjustment facility;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a sectional diagram through a third exemplary embodiment of an adjustment facility;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a sectional diagram through a fourth exemplary embodiment of an adjustment facility;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a sectional diagram through a fifth exemplary embodiment of an adjustment facility; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a sectional diagram through a sixth exemplary embodiment of an adjustment facility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(12) In the figures the same elements or elements with the same function are labeled with the same reference characters.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a schematic horizontal sectional diagram of a microwave oven 1. The microwave oven 1 comprises an oven space 2 which is delimited by walls of a muffle 3. On the front side and thus facing towards a user the muffle 3 has a loading opening 4, through which items to be cooked can be introduced into the oven space 2. The loading opening 4 is able to be closed off on the front side by a door 5, wherein the closed state is shown in FIG. 1. The door 5 includes a door plate 6 disposed on the outer side or the front side respectively, which can be a viewing window for example. In addition the door 5 comprises a carrier part 7, to which hinges 8 of the door 5 are coupled, so that the door 5 as a whole is able to be hinged around an axis standing at right angles to the plane of the figure relative to the rest of the device and thus especially to the muffle 3 and a housing 9 not shown in any greater detail.

(14) The carrier part 7 is preferably embodied as a plate. On the side of the carrier part 7 facing towards the oven space 2 a microwave shield 10 is disposed and is fastened to the carrier part 7. The microwave shield 10 is disposed spaced at a distance away from a flange 11 of the muffle 3, wherein the flange 11 is especially embodied running around the entire circumference and thus represents the edge of the loading opening 4 and delimits said opening.

(15) In addition a device front 12 is shown in FIG. 1, which for example is a control panel and is disposed on the housing 9. As can be seen in FIG. 1, there is preferably provision for an outer side 12a of the device front 12 to be flush in the vertical direction and thus in the y direction with an outer side 6a of the front plate 6 of the door 5.

(16) In particular there is provision for a distance d between the flange 11 and the microwave shield 10 to be set so that, in operation of the microwave oven 18, the smallest possible amount of microwave energy leaks from the oven space 2.

(17) There is provision for the microwave oven 1 to have an adjustment facility 13 which is embodied so that the microwave shield 10 is able to be set and thus changed in its position in all three spatial directions (x-, y- and z-direction) relative to the flange 11.

(18) FIG. 2 shows the microwave oven 1 in a view towards the oven space 2, wherein the door 5 shown in the closed state is merely shown with the carrier part 7 and the microwave shield 10.

(19) The adjustment facility 13 comprises a number of, in the exemplary embodiment four, holes 15 and 16 (two upper holes and two lower holes in each case), which are embodied in the respective corner areas of the rectangular plate or the carrier part 7. Fastening elements, especially screws, can be passed through these holes 15, 16 in order to fasten the microwave shield 10 to the carrier part 7 releasably in a non-destructive manner. Through these holes 15, 16 with their design explained in greater detail below, in conjunction with the fastening elements, a part of the adjustment facility 13 is created, so that a setting of a relative position between the microwave shield 10 and the carrier part 7 in two spatial directions at right angles to one another, namely the y- and the z-direction and thus in a plane in parallel to the carrier part 7 can be made.

(20) FIG. 2 shows an example of a situation here in which the microwave shield 10 is disposed and fastened off-center in relation to the dimensions and embodiments of the carrier part 7. This is made possible by the specific subcomponents of the adjustment facility 13, wherein, through the advantageous position shown in FIG. 2, quite specific requirements in respect of positional tolerances between the individual positions to be adapted to one another between the components are the most advantageous in respect of a smallest possible microwave energy escape from the oven space 2.

(21) Shown in FIG. 3 in this connection is an enlarged presentation of what is shown in FIG. 2 in the area of the hole 16. It can be seen in this figure that an internal diameter 14′ of the hole 16 is larger than the external diameter 14″ of a fastening element 17, such that a movement with play is possible. Preferably there is provision for the internal diameter 14′ to be greater by at least 1.2 times, especially at least 1.5 times, especially by at least 2 times than the outer diameter 14″. The same is also true in the dimension relationships between the holes 16 and the associated fastening elements passed through them in each case. Through this a relative position change is created, which in this plane can be made in a versatile and finely-adjusted way.

(22) FIG. 4a shows an embodiment of the microwave oven 1 in a horizontal sectional diagram, in which for example the carrier part 7 is shown in a production tolerance exaggerated in its width and/or in an angled position. Through this the microwave shield 10 attached to it is accordingly disposed at an angle in relation to the flange 11. As can be seen in the diagram FIG. 4a, the distances d in the upper and lower area between the microwave shield 10 and the flange 11 are different. Therefore a less-than-optimum position of the microwave shield 10 is present, so that a large proportion of microwave energy could escape from the oven space 2 during operation of the microwave oven 1.

(23) In order to rectify this misadjustment as well and thus be able to make a positional change in the third spatial direction and thus in the x-direction, the adjustment facility 13, in accordance with the diagram in FIG. 4b, has a distance setting device 18. The distance setting device 18 is embodied for setting of a relative position in a third spatial direction measured in the depth direction and thus in the x-direction of the microwave oven 1 between the microwave shield 10 and the flange 11.

(24) In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 4b the distance setting device 18 has a number of distance elements 19 and 20. These are disposed in the free space 21 between the microwave shield 10 and the carrier part 7. Through these distance elements 19 and 20 the distance in the third spatial direction is set so that the microwave shield 10 is disposed at a distance d that is as equal as possible from the flange 11 running around its circumference. Preferably the microwave shield 10 then thus extends in a plane in parallel to the flange 11.

(25) FIG. 4c shows a horizontal sectional diagram in which a front plate 6 of the door 5 is disposed at an angle in relation to the panel 12. In order to additionally achieve a correspondingly flush and thus adjusted arrangement of the front side or outer side 6a in relation to the front side or outer side 12a, the distance elements 19 and 20, as are then shown in FIG. 4d, are designed to be multifunctional. These distance elements 19 and 20, of which the number is only to be understood as an example, then allow a versatile adjustment between different components and thus a comprehensive relative position setting between different components to be achieved. Thus a simultaneous position adjustment between components of the door 5 itself, especially of the carrier part 7 and the microwave shield 10 in respect of a defined and desired position setting between the microwave shield 10 and the flange 11 is just as possible as relative position setting between the door 5, especially of a front plate 6 permanently connected to the carrier part 7 to a front-side and door-external component, especially the panel 12.

(26) In preferred versions there is provision for a fastening element 17, which can be included and used as a basis for example for different versions of a fastening element, to be disposed so as to engage within a distance element 19 and for these two separate parts to be positioned axially guided within one another.

(27) A first exemplary embodiment relating thereto is shown in a cross-sectional diagram in FIG. 5. In this version a longitudinal axis A of the fastening element 17 extends in the direction of this third spatial direction and thus in the x-direction. The longitudinal extent and thus longitudinal axis of the distance element 19 is also to be seen accordingly.

(28) In the exemplary embodiment shown the distance element 19 extends completely into the free space 21 and does not extend beyond said space. The fastening element 17 is embodied as a screw here, which extends with a screw shaft 17a, which preferably has the external diameter 14″ through the hole 16, which preferably has the internal diameter 14′.

(29) The distance element 19 has a bore 19a right through it, through which the screw shaft 17a fully extends. As can be seen, the distance element 19 has a wedge shape at an end 19b in its longitudinal extent measured in the third spatial direction, wherein the distance element 19 rests with this taper and thus this wedge shape on a taper 10a of an inner side 10b of the microwave shield 10. The screw which represents the fastening element 70 has at its front end of the screw shaft 17a a thread 17b which engages into a mating thread 22 in the taper 20a and thus a mechanical coupling is able to be effected. Through a movement of the distance element 19 in the y-z plane relative to the taper 10a the distance and thus the spacing in the x-direction between the carrier part 7 and the microwave shield 10 is changed. By screwing in the screw or the fastening element 17 this position can be fixed.

(30) In FIG. 6 the distance element 19 is embodied in an alternative version as a spiral spring which likewise is disposed completely within the free space 21. In this embodiment the microwave shield 10 also does not have any taper 10a in the area of the mechanical coupling with the fastening element 17. In that this spiral string which represents the distance element 19 is able to be continuously changed in its length in the direction of the longitudinal axis A, an individual change in distance in the third spatial direction and thus in the x-direction between the carrier part 7 and the microwave shield 10 can also be made. Here too the corresponding geometry of the hole 16 is similar to the embodiment and the explanations for FIGS. 2 and 3 and for FIG. 5, so that here too an individual relative position setting in all three spatial directions is made possible.

(31) In FIG. 7 a cross-sectional diagram is shown in a further exemplary embodiment, in which the fastening element 17 and the distance element 19 are present integrated into one component. Here too the fastening element 17 is once again designed as a type of screw which has a thread 17b. This is embodied with a shaft-type base part or a screw shaft 17a on the one end of which the anchoring area is embodied as a thread 17b for fastening in the microwave shield 10 is present. In addition a plate-shaped collar 23 running at least partly around the base section or the screw shaft 17a is embodied. This collar 23 rests on an inner side 7a of the carrier part 7 facing towards the microwave shield 10 in the installed state. A distance in this third spatial direction between the microwave shield 10 and the carrier part 7 is able to be set as a function of the relative position of the anchoring area or of the thread 17b in a receptacle 24 in the microwave shield 10. Depending on how the penetration depth of the thread 17b into the receptacle 24 is thus embodied, the distance setting can be performed in this third spatial direction and thus in the x-direction.

(32) In addition there is provision for the fastening element 17 to have a coupling area 17c at an end lying opposite the thread 17b, which is embodied for coupling with a fixing element 25. In particular the coupling area 17c is also embodied as a thread and the fixing element is designed as a nut. In the mounted state the fixing element 25 rests against an outer side 7b of the carrier part 7 facing away from the microwave shield 10. The set relative position in the x-direction between the carrier part 7 and the microwave shield 10 is then fixed by said element.

(33) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional diagram in a further exemplary embodiment, in which a multi-part distance element 19 is provided. In this version a first sub-element 19g extends outside the free space 21 and on the side of the microwave shield 10 facing away from the carrier part 7. The first sub-element 19g is connected to the microwave shield 10 so that it can be released non-destructively, in particular is screwed into it. It can however also be connected thereto so that it cannot be released non-destructively, or pressed or welded or glued into it. A second sub-element 19c of the distance element 19 essentially extends in the free space 21 and is connected to the second sub-element sub-element 19c such that these two sub-elements 19g and 19c can move to change their position in relation to one another in the direction of the axis A and thus also in the direction of the third spatial direction. In particular there is provision for the second sub-element 19c, at its end facing towards the first sub-element 19g to have an external thread, with which it is able to be coupled and screwed to an inner thread of the first sub-element 19g.

(34) It can also be seen that the fastening element 17, especially a screw, once again extends through a bore through the two sub-elements 19g and 19c and is anchored in a receptacle area 19d of the first sub-element 19g, especially screwed into it. Here too a distance setting is thus able to be achieved and fixed in the third spatial direction very easily and also very precisely and permanently. In relation to the relative position setting in x- and z-direction, reference may once again be made to the information given for FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, so that also with the information in accordance with FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 a relative positional change is able to be made by the adjustment facility 13 between the microwave shield 10 and the carrier part 7 and thus also a corresponding positional change in all three spatial directions between the microwave shield 10 and the flange 11 is made possible.

(35) FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a cross-sectional diagram in which the distance element 19 is embodied as a type of plug. The distance element 19 has a spreadable front end 19e, which engages into a receptacle 26 in the microwave shield 10 or is pushed into said receptacle. On a rear end facing towards the carrier part 7 a claw 19f is embodied which is supported on the inner side 7a of the carrier part 7. Here too the fastening element 17 with the shaft 17a is passed axially through the distance element 19 lying within it. Depending on how far the plug-type distance element 19 penetrates into the receptacle 26, the distance in the x-direction is able to be set. This distance then set can be fixed by the fastening element 17 being pushed in the axial direction relative to the distance element 19 into said element and through this the front end 19e being spread out and wedged into the receptacle 26.

(36) In the version in FIG. 8 it is also possible for the principle to be reversed. Then the second sub-element 19c is fastened with an outer thread to the microwave shield 10 and additionally bears the thread for the fastening element 17. The first sub-element 19g then only has one inner thread for the second sub-element 19c and a through-hole for the fastening element 17. Likewise the sub-element connected to the microwave shield 10 can be embodied in one piece with this microwave shield 10. Preferably there is provision for the screw thread to be embodied as a self tapping thread in the second sub-element 19c.

(37) In FIG. 10 an exemplary embodiment is shown in a further cross-sectional diagram in which the microwave shield 10 has an integrated distance element 19, wherein this is embodied by a bent-over free end or an edge respectively. For this purpose this edge is formed as a U-shaped bent tab. Both arms 10d and 10e of the U shape are connected to the fastening element 17 or said element extends in the third spatial direction and thus in the x direction through the two arms 10d and 10e. As can be seen from the diagram in FIG. 10, one arm 10d rests against the inner side 7a of the carrier part 7, while the other arm 10e is disposed at a distance from it. In that the two arms 10d and 10e can deform in the x-direction and can thus move towards one another or can move away from one another, the distance between the microwave shield 10 and the carrier part 7 is able to be changed in this third spatial direction and can be fixed by the fastening element 17.

(38) Preferably the arm 10d is embodied with a cut thread into which the fastening element 17 engages. As soon as the fastening element 17 and especially the screw then comes into contact with the second arm 10e during installation, it cuts a further thread into said arm. Through this self-tapping embodiment of the fastening element 17 the position of the previously bent tab is fixed. The clamping of the support part 7 takes place at the end of the tab.